Brassiere with cups having rim reinforcement



Jan. 8, 1957 T. B. scHAUML-:R

BRASSIERE WITH CUPS HAVING RIM REINFORCEMENT l Filed May-28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l igina zo so ,.4 a

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Jan. 8, 1957 T. B. scHAuMr-:R 2,776,433

BRASSIERE WITH CUPS HAVING RIM REINFORCEMENT Original Filed May 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/Eo .5. 5CH/J mf/EQ, E 4 I N VEN T 0R. i

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United States Patent O TheoB; .Schaumeigxltios-Angelesg. Galrifs, assignor-A toHoll'yf Wood-Maxwelll Cos, Hollywood,l Calif.,` a' corporation of. (California v Cntiluation'of@abandonedapplicatiirisaliN; 96,060;

(cia-42) br'aslsiere 1thattmayrbe comfortably. worn, for longg'periods without in any way reducing the effectiveness of the support for the breasts.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 96,060, filed in the name of Theo B. Schaumer on May 28, 1949, and entitled Brassiere with Cups Having Rim Reinforcement, and now abandoned.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may `be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:`

Figure l is a pictorial view of a brassiere embodying the invention, and shown in use;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the brassiere, with the bodyencircling portion extended;

Fig. 3 is a View taken from the inside of the cup region of the brassiere;`

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views, taken along planes corresponding to lines 5--5 and 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the reinforcing member utilized with the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a side view of the member, taken from a plane corresponding to line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

The breast cups 1 and 2 are shown, in this instance, as made from a plurality of sections of suitable fabric material, joined together by the seams 3. These cups may be provided, if desired, with reinforcing stitching 4 that may be in the form of a spiral line, beginning near the top of the cup 1 or 2 and extending substantially to the base of the cup.

The cups 1 and 2 are joined to a body-encircling portion, including the side portions 5 and 6, and the lower portions 7 and 8. The side portions 5 and 6 may be provided with detachable fastening means, such as the eyelets 9 and the hooks 10. These members may be conveniently made of any appropriate fabric material;

p vor, if desired, they may be made of elastic material ca- Patented; Jan. 8,. 1957 ICC 2 pable of stretchinginta;,horizontalY direction.. Theed'ges 11 and 12 ofeach-@of these'- parts may,` ber turned. over tofformzan overlapping part-13;. l

There are two lower portions; 7; and. 8;J formedof appropriate fabricmateriahsuch as satin, nylonsille,.or the like. These portionssT and S'Imay, be-,joined asby seams14, to alower centralifabricmember. 30. The outer edges. ofthese-4 members7 and 8 are; extended upwardly for attachmentrto-thetsidesiandeti andttrthe cup edges. Thelower inside` edgeof these; members 7-, 8. and. A30 may be covered with a strip 15 of nappedmr piled maf terials,` such as, velours, velvet, plush,v or the:like.

Extending aroundaportion ofthe outer edge of. both of the cups-1, and 2'.. is a. resilient. reinforcing,` element 16 made of steel wire, or other equivalent resilient material. This wire is shown most clearly invlfigvs.. 4 and: 5,:and may be-about one-sixteenth of` an.inch-A in, diameter.- The wirefor, bothy of the breast.. oups 1= and` 2. is-.made as` an integralfpiecer. The ends.1..7.18.. of` thewire .extend.' cl owniavardly4 along.,theeouter-'edgespf members 7. and: 8VA and adjacentthe, sides,.5 and. 6., and," terminate: near the ,lower edgefof the garment. Themenher. 16;Y- furthermore, exttend's. around the 5 upper edges of. the: cups: 1 and4 2,., and thence`, at. the central, portioin. thief wire memberv 16. has the.y extensions, 19j' that. Iproject toward) the. lower edge offthe'` body-encircling, memberl andtermi-nate: near that lower el'ge. They, lare.;jiiiied together. .by the., integral lri"zoiital` member 20` Vextendir'igl between the two cup sections and lying along the inner side of the member 30.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, the wire 16` is so bent that the ends 17, 18 slant forwardly of the garment, the forward slope beginning near the top 40 of the cup arch. This forward slant is overcome when the garment is in use, the band encircling the body and pulling the outer edges of the breast cups inwardly of the body. Thus the garment is locked in place against the breasts. This produces an improved breast support, and limits relative movement between the cups and the brassiere.

As shown most clearly in Fig. l, when the garment is in use, the central extensions of the wire cause separation of the breastsand provide a clear space extending downwardly to the lower edges of the cups 1 and 2. Thus, lowcut, plunging neckline gowns may be worn without exposing any portion of the brassiere. Furthermore, due to the reinforcement provided by the wire 16, shoulder straps are obviated.

In `the norma-l position, when fthe garment is not being worn, the wire 16 assumes the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the extensions 19 converging upwardly. Thus, due to this feature, the resilience of the Wire 16 opposes the forces tending to separate the cups 1 and 2 when the brassiere encircles 4the body. At the same time, lthis resilience permits the wire fram-e 16 Ito accommodate itself to .the breasts of the wearer in accordance with body movements. The wired edges of the cups yare urged, neverftheless, into irm supporting contact with the wearers body.

The wire reinforcing in Ithis instance is so supported and arranged that it may be worn without discomfort. For this purpose, a padding cover 21 (Figs. 4 and 5) is placed over the entire length of the wire 16. Then it is sheathed in thin fabric 22 which is then attached, as by stitches 23, to the edges of the cups 1 and 2 and `to the members 7, 8 and 30. This material 22 may be of satin, or other suitable material.

Furthermore, cushions are provided on the inside of the garment at points where support pressure occurs. Thus, overlying each of the ends 17 and 18 is a cushion 24 (Fig. S) which may be made from sponge or foam rubber, or the like. This cushion may have a cover or case 25, and may extend from near the lower edge of the garment for a substantial distance upwardly. Furthermore, overlying the portion 20 of the wire 16 is a similar cushion 26 made of sponge or foam rubber, or the like, and which may be provided with a cover or casing 27. This cover or casing may be provided with a ribbon bow 28, tied over the cushion 26.

The breast cups 1 and 2, when the garment is worn, closely overlie the breasts, and the garment is held firmly in this overlying position by the resilience of the wire member 16. Although fthe ends 17 and 18 and the integral joining member 20 are pressed inwardly 'against the diaphragm region of ythe wearer, the cushions 24 and 26 prevent undue pressure. The napped material 15, at the lower edges of each of the cup sections, also reduces any likelihood of discomfort. The cushions oppose slipping of the garment.

Although the cups 1 and l2 have been indicated as made from four sections, any appropriate variation may be provided. The cups may be lined or unlined, as desired.

The inventor claims:

1. In a brassiere a pair of breast cups; a body-encircling portion attached -t-o the cups and extending below the cups; and a continuous wire-like resilient member extending around the upper edges of both cups, said member having substantially straight ends extending respectively from the outer edges of the cups toward the lower edge of -the body-en-circling portion; the said ends being slant-ed forwardly of the other parts of the member when said member is unstressed; said member having downwardly directed extensions along the inner edges of the cups; said extensions being joined -to each other between the cups and substantially beneath the center of the cups, said inner extensions converging toward each other in a direction upwardly of the brassiere to cause engagement of the cups with each other when said mem ber is unstressed.

2. In a brassiere: a pair of breast cups; a body-encircling portion attached to the cups and extending below the cups; and a resilient member having a pair of cup frame elements extending along and attached to the upper edges of the cups respectively, and having a central connecting portion for the elements disposed between the cups and substantially beneath the center of said cups; said central connecting portion joining the inner extremities of vsaid elements, said elements each having outer extremities extending form the outer edges of the cups toward the lower edge of the body-encircling portion, said outer extremities being slanted so that the ends of the outer extremities normally extend forwardly and out of the plane of the other parts of the member; said inner extremities of said elements converging toward each other in a direction upwardly of the brassiere to cause abutment between the cups when said member is unstressed;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,869 Isaacs July 11, 1950 2,537,831 Hunan Jan. 9, 1951 2,588,603 Anderson Mar. 1l, 1952 

